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Time for federal intervention in church

THE federal government's intervention into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory was justified by allegations of the widespread sexual abuse of children. Since there is better documented evidence of the sexual abuse of children in the care of the Catholic Church, it is appropriate to demand a companion intervention into the Catholic school system.

The Catholic hierarchy's continuing attempts to frustrate the course of justice in regard to this appalling matter make it an accessory after the fact. Indeed, since it is not clear the abuse has ceased, the church may well be an accessory during the fact.

The intervention would relieve the Catholic Church of its power over our children's lives. This will cost money, especially in hiring new teaching staff. This money should be provided by reallocating the money currently spent on grants and subsidies to Catholic schools. Taxpayers should not be subsiding an institution that continues to succour and protect criminals who are guilty of the sexual abuse of children.

Patrick Wolfe, Healesville

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Put research online

CARE Leavers Australia Network, the national support and advocacy network for people who were in orphanages and children's homes, recently provided research to the Victorian inquiry into the Catholic Church. The research, from the Victoria Police Gazettes, shows children who absconded from Victorian institutions. Over a nine-year period, 1528 Victorian children ran away from church, charity and government homes. Most were in government-run orphanages like Turana, Royal Park Depot and Winlaton.

But children sexually abused in government institutions are excluded from the inquiry. Doesn't the government care about what happened to children on its own turf? We have contacted the inquiry to request our research be placed online. As yet this has not occurred. Prime Minister, bring on the federal royal commission please.

Leonie Sheedy, CLAN, Bankstown, NSW

Unholy alliance

RESISTING a royal commission into sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, on the grounds that the victims might be further traumatised, is a cynical argument adopted by those who are uncomfortable with what might be revealed by such an inquiry (''Royal commission on church abuse is not the answer: Hockey, Shorten'', theage.com.au, 9/11). How dare the Bill Shortens and Joe Hockeys of the world presume to know how the victims would feel about this.

All victims of crime are entitled to have their complaints taken seriously and thoroughly investigated, so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice. I take my lead from the Victoria Police, whose genuine efforts to do just that have been frustrated by the church's efforts to protect their own, aided and abetted by sympathetic politicians. The only way to unpick this unholy alliance is to establish a truly independent inquiry with some real power.

Bronwyn Benn, Burwood

Out of the equation

Economic commentators should add the scores of people killed on Black Saturday into their costings, given the damning evidence at the Bushfires Royal Commission of rotten, rusted, metal-fatigued power lines that failed in high winds. Chronic skimping on maintenance for many years, while economically efficient, has its downside when unserviceable power lines in an appallingly dangerous state of disrepair ignite killer firestorms.

There is nothing laudable about the economic efficiency of Victoria's privatised electricity industry when it unleashes the terror of rampaging firestorms on such a huge scale. Martin Ferguson's call for yet more deregulation must be treated with the utmost caution if we consider that more than 90 per cent of Black Saturday's fatalities were possibly a byproduct of the first tranche.

Michael Gunter, North Melbourne

Test of efficiency

THE government's energy white paper places too much emphasis on smart meters to bring about a reduction in energy use. While it is encouraging that minimum energy standards for computers are to be introduced (''Smart appliance choices ease electricity bill shock'', The Age, 9/11), appliances with much bigger energy use have received no focus from government.

I tested the soft drink machine at work and found it used more energy than our house. Commercial fridges and airconditioners are much more significant users of power than modern computers and efforts to curb their use and improve their efficiency will test whether the government is really committed to fossil fuel reduction or just in opening the way for third world carbon offsets.

Peter Allan, West Brunswick

Racing's underbelly

GIVEN the mix of animals, athletes, criminals, corporations, gamblers and governments involved, it is hardly surprising the Australian racing industry has more than its fair share of corruption, spin and deception (''The wrong side of the track'', The Age, 8/11). The sport is also filled with rich history, spectacle, great tenacity and the sheer courage of horses and jockeys. But in the usual run of racing industry stories, few speak of the hardship that pervades this industry; the hardship of gamblers' losses, broken-down horses, and struggling country race clubs.

But the greatest hardship lies with the men and women who risk their lives and livelihoods riding for the ''sport of kings''. The industry relies on the hardship and exploitation of those who ride the horses, at track work and race meetings, seven days a week, all year round. The challenge is not the clean-up of illegal betting by jockeys, but a complete review and reform of this industry that pays its workers inadequately, has a terrible health and safety record and offers inadequate compensation in the event of injury or death.

Kate Driscoll, Fairhaven

Deaf to the message

ON THURSDAY a Melbourne newspaper carried an ad for Vinomofo, a wine distribution company. Essentially, contestants have a chance of winning a Mini Minor if they correctly guess the number of bottles of wine that will fit in the car.

As a long-time advertising practitioner and now a lecturer at RMIT School of Business, I am dumbfounded that a responsible marketer could be so irresponsible. Just the day before, an 18-year-old was jailed for killing Georgie Thring due to excessive alcohol and speed.

We can be proud of the work the TAC has done in its campaigning for safer roads and cars, yet here we have a marketer who clearly doesn't get it. I called the company to discuss my concerns, but it did not return my calls.

Peter Lawrance, St Kilda

Number of floods, and their severity, will rise

MANY of the impacts of climate are felt, and will continue to be felt, through climate extremes. While few specific events can be attributed on their own to climate change, climate change is changing the risk of many extreme events.

One of the most significant types of extreme events affected by climate change is the occurrence of coastal flooding from storm surges, caused by tropical cyclones or extratropical storms. Hurricane Sandy was merely the most recent example of a destructive storm surge; such events have been responsible for many of the worst weather-related catastrophes of the past century, from hurricane Katrina in the US to the many disastrous coastal floods of Bangladesh.

William Kininmonth and Bob Carter (Opinion, 8/11) fail to address the way in which rising sea levels contribute to storm surge flooding. Sea levels have risen globally by about 20 centimetres since 1900; this means a storm such as hurricane Sandy will cause about 20 centimetres more flooding than the same storm would have done a century ago. That, in turn, means that a coastal location that might have expected to flood, on average, once a century in 1900's climate can expect to be flooded several times a century in today's.

First principles

WILLIAM Kininmonth and Bob Carter refer to the ''wilful misuse of science''. Let's see how they stack up. First, selective use of data. ''There has been no significant atmospheric warming since 1996,'' they write. Why did they choose 1996? Because choosing 1995 or 1997 leads to a different conclusion.

Second, mis-direction. Call yourself the NIPCC to cloak yourself in IPCC-like credibility (similar to the use of the words creation ''science'').

Finally, assertions as fact. ''Suggestions that higher concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide have somehow influenced the formation and development of Sandy are therefore simply untrue,'' they write. Untrue? Maybe ''not yet proven''. But nor is their assertion that climate change didn't exacerbate Sandy yet proven. Kininmonth and Carter aren't pushing science. Theirs is a flagrant disregard for scientific principles and facts.

Greg Clerk, Williamstown

Let's set up a queue

PEOPLE often describe those who come to our shores as ''queue jumpers'' so why don't we make a queue? Each year since 2001 we have accepted only 56 refugees of those who are stranded in Indonesia; this year the number is 24. No wonder they feel they must make the perilous journey by boat. If we increased the number of refugees we took from those waiting in Indonesia for resettlement to between 1000 and 2000, we would save many from drowning, reduce the income of people smugglers, give hope to distressed people, minimise mental health concerns and dramatically reduce the costs of our ever-expanding detention centres. We would even have a queue of sorts, thus satisfying almost everybody.

Bernadette Owen, East Doncaster

Super way to fund rail

MANY thousands of retirees have lost all or a substantial part of their superannuation through dodgy advice or unfortunate investments, while the majority have received a return less than a fixed term bank deposit.

The federal government could ensure super contributors avoid similar disasters by introducing a government National Superannuation Fund, with the principal and interest (related to, but above, the fixed term bank deposit) guaranteed. Current annual super contributions of more than $105 billion go primarily into raising the price of shares in a motley group of companies while essential infrastructure is delayed to minimise borrowing. Such a fund could guarantee superannuants security over their savings while providing governments with the funds for public transport, fast inter-city rail and freeways and efficient irrigation for the Murray-Darling. And it would remove the pressure for selling off public assets. Where is our leaders' political vision?

Harold Levien, Dover Heights

Politics is not personal

EACH election in America outdoes the previous in negative attacks by both parties. This time, there was a lot of extra ammunition due to the unlimited money poured into PACs and super PACs. Not only is America a very divided country, but even families are feuding. One member of my family says he will never speak to the rest of us again because we have effectively "killed his son's future" by supporting Barack Obama and his "horrific view" for America's future.

Shocking? Not really. Election campaigns are no longer policy debates, but rather personal attacks; political war that is run in the same way as the campaigns used to inspire young men to kill; demonise and thus dehumanise the opponent and their supporters. Just look back at the descriptions of the Germans, Japanese and Vietnamese during the various wars.

I hope this serves as a wake-up call to the politicians, media pundits and others; debate the policy, don't attack the person. Don't follow America's lead.

David Richardson, Port Melbourne

Hear our voice

ONE thing Australia could learn from America is its system of direct voter participation in matters that may not be agreed on at a national level. Two US states, Maine and Maryland, approved legalising same-sex marriage at the recent election. Why cannot Australians voters be given the opportunity at state level to vote in a similar fashion? By doing so, the voice of the Australian people can truly be heard, whereas at this time in our history national governments may, or more importantly may not, carry out the real wishes of the voters.

Innes Hutchison, Highton

Media bullying not OK

THE same media that decries trolls and cyber bullying has gleefully leapt upon a teenager's single tweet (''Confused? So was Kristen Neel'', theage.com.au, 8/11). Kristen Neel thought John Howard was still in power. Sure, she's not particularly well versed in Australian politics. But the spiteful reaction from seasoned journalists and media commentators is most certainly bullying. She's all over the news, and journalists are trying to track her down. She's had to delete her account; she's from another country; and she's a teenager. Doesn't anyone think this is not OK?

Luke Ainsworth, North Balwyn

WHAT'S MORE...

TO THOSE upset by racehorses being hit with a riding crop - it doesn't hurt them. Get some perspective on what really hurts and scream for a royal commission into the Catholic Church.

John Laurie, Newport

The Catholic Church

''THE horror! The horror!'' It is as though a veil is being irreparably rent to reveal the Catholic Church's heart of darkness.

Michelle Goldsmith, Eaglehawk

A ROYAL commission is required to tackle the horrific abuse by the brothers grim.

Mary Fenelon, Collingwood

WHY do both sides of Parliament continue to protect the Catholic Church?

Linda Dare, Woodend

FORGIVE them, Father? For the brothers knew exactly what they did.

Myra Fisher, Brighton East

IF I were a practising Catholic, I would leave the church until it purged itself.

Meg Stuart, Forest Hill

Qantas

WITH Qantas downsizing its Avalon workforce, it's time for Ted Baillieu to reconsider the rail link to Avalon and introduce one to Tullamarine.

Alan Inchley, Frankston

THE dying kangaroo.

Alex Shabs, Elwood

Sport

WHEN was the last time sport was off the front page and where it should be?

Guy Thevenet, Clunes

CHANNEL 9 could delay its ''live'' coverage by 10 minutes; I would still listen to the ABC.

Vic Ketis, Black Rock

Other matters

THE Republican Party's Tea Party faction seems to believe it should have fielded a candidate even further to the right of the soup spoon. Where was it when evolution was happening?

Thos Puckett, Ashgrove, Queensland

MARTIN Ferguson says nuclear power is a proven source of clean energy. Try telling that to the Japanese.

Malcolm McDonald, Burwood

IN AUSTRALIA, one line from a 100-year-old poem can dismiss two decades of research into causes of climate variability. A cultured lot aren't we?

Steve Kenihan, McKinnon

A DOUBLE page ad for 26 ''fashion'' beers, seven ginger beers and seven ciders (The Age, 9/11). We're spoiled for choice while millions in the world don't have access to clean drinking water. It left a nasty taste in my mouth.